CONOR GALLAGHER has already been to Dublin once this summer – to watch HURLING.
And he revealed he is not sure who his Irish girlfriend will support on Saturday.
Atletico Madrid midfielder Gallagher and the rest of the England team take on Ireland on Saturday in the Uefa Nations league at the Aviva Stadium.
The 24-year-old and partner Aine May Kennedy watched Clare face Cork in the All-Ireland hurling final at Croke Park.
He said: “My girlfriend is from Cork and we went to Dublin to support them with some of the family and had a great time. I really enjoyed it and it was great to see her family out there as well.
“It was really interesting to go and see the match. It’s a really exciting sport. And tough to be fair. I’d never watched a live game before of hurling and yes, it’s very intense.”
Asked who his girlfriend will be supporting on Saturday, Gallagher added: “I don’t know actually. She always supports me but obviously she’s an Irish girl and I’m sure she doesn’t mind.”
The midfielder suffered a torrid Euros and was effectively kicked out by Chelsea.
But he refused to criticise the Blues, the club he joined at the age of six.
Gallagher was offered only a two-year contract to remain when others were given seven, eight and or nine-year deals and he ended up being forced to train with the U21s.
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He also found himself stuck in limbo, in a Madrid hotel, as both Chelsea and Atletico struggled to agree on the deal before the £34million transfer was completed.
On not being good enough for Chelsea, Gallagher said: “I don’t think that’s true. I think last season I had a good season with Chelsea and you could see that by Pochettino playing me every game and showing his trust in me.
“And the fans appreciated what I did on the pitch. I’m very grateful for all of that and very thankful to the fans and very thankful to Pochettino for giving me that platform to go and express myself and show the best version of myself at Chelsea.
“With Chelsea, I have only got good things to say. Amazing football club, my boyhood club where I grew up through the academy.
“As for the fans, last season especially, they really warmed to me which made me feel confident and good and very happy so I leave Chelsea with really special memories.
“The dream came true. I’m very lucky.
“Chelsea make their own decisions and they’ve brought in some top players on long contracts. That wasn’t the situation with me but, in the end, what happened is good for everyone, so everyone is happy.”
During the Euros, Gallagher got some inside info on Atletico from former defender Kieran Trippier.
He also featured in a spectacular unveiling at the stadium alongside fellow new arrival Julian Alvarez and the other summer signings.
Gallagher added: “It was amazing. A really good experience. It is not a thing they do in England is it? It was a bit of a surprise to me and made me feel really excited.
“Me and Tripps spoke a lot at the Euros and he gave me some really good advice and helped me a lot with my decision so I am very grateful to Tripps for that.”
Gallagher has played twice in LaLiga, starting Saturday’s 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao and is taking regular Spanish lessons.
As for another Englishman in Madrid, Gallagher added: “I will see Jude out and about.”
While Bellingham is missing the squad for the first internationals under Lee Carsley – in Ireland on Saturday and at home to Finland on Tuesday – Gallagher believes the interim manager is a great fit for the job.
He said: “Gareth was brilliant for me and he did an amazing job with England. I wish him all the very best but it’s Lee Carsley now and I know him really well from the Under-21s and am excited to work with him.
“He makes the players feel at ease when they’re speaking to him, which is a great way to be. I’m really excited to work with Cars. He’s a top manager.”
